Roger-Luc Chayer (Image: Wikimedia)
Beauty is a very subjective concept, and tastes vary, whether in ancient Greece or today. However, in ancient Greece, male nudity was encouraged and elevated to the level of adoration of the male body. But why?
The male body as his temple
According to Wikipedia, the notion of ‘heroic nudity’ is applied by archaeologists and art historians, in its earliest representations, exclusively to Greek art. It later extends to Hellenistic and Roman art. This concept distinguishes the hero from the ordinary human: gods could be depicted nude, but their sculptures had specific attributes.
In ancient Greece, according to Bernard Holtzmann, nudity was perceived as a costume that placed the subject in a state of surreal, divine, or heroic existence, especially when it concerned honored or deceased figures. Heroic nudity allowed sculpted figures to be represented on a larger-than-life scale, whereas ordinary mortals were often portrayed at a natural scale in Greek art.
In vase painting, the François Vase depicts Achilles, nude and heroic, among his companions in military attire. For a Greek, dying in battle was considered the most glorious death, elevating the soldier to the status of a hero. Thus, we distinguish between two types of heroes: those from epic tales – such as Achilles – and the ordinary soldiers who died in combat.
(Image: bas-relief. Funerary urn – Athens)
Olympic Nudity
In ancient Greece, the Olympic Games were also an opportunity to celebrate the male body by having athletes compete nude, not only to showcase their physical prowess but also to display their muscular strength.
According to the Department of Philosophy and Applied Ethics at the University of Sherbrooke, ‘It is often overlooked that the first athletes of ancient Greece (of both sexes) competed in complete nudity. Several reasons could explain this historical fact. The Greeks exalted the beauty of the body and had a different concept of modesty than we do. One thing remains true: the practice of training nude was widespread throughout ancient Greece from the earliest times, applying to all athletes, from the youngest to the oldest. One thing seems clear, however: the Greeks emphasized the integrity of athletes and sought to eliminate any form of cheating. Stripping for the event was a regulated practice and, among other things, a way to ensure fairness between athletes. At least in terms of equipment, everyone started on an equal footing. For example, runners competed barefoot, and wrestlers fought without tunics.’
(Image: Pottery. Gymnasium scene)
The ancient Greeks frequently created works of art to immortalize everyday actions or to pay homage to deceased heroes and demigods. Engravings, bas-reliefs, pottery, and mosaics often depicted these scenes with men of all ages, nude and in action. Fortunately, many of these artifacts have survived the past four millennia, to the delight of our culture and our eyes!